Perfect Shirl turned a perfect trip into a perfect stakes debut in the $150,000 Lake George S. (G2T) on July 28 at Saratoga. The 3-year-old filly by Darby Dan stallion Perfect Soul (Ire) won the prestigious mid-summer stakes with her ears pricked for owner/breeder Charles Fipke. She was foaled and raised by Darby Dan for long-time client Mr. Fipke.

The Lake George was the third consecutive win for Perfect Shirl, who broke her maiden June 13 on turf at Woodbine, then came right back to win a first-level allowance over the Woodbine Polytrack on July 11.

In the Lake George, Perfect Shirl's closing kick was set up by solid early fractions. She raced mid-pack through the backstretch under John Velazquez, with Go Ask Alex setting the pace at :23.65 and :47.76 for four furlongs. The eventual victress moved four-wide to take aim on Exclusive Love, who took the lead around the turn. She caught her inside the furlong marker and went on to win by three-quarters of a length. The final time for 8 1/2 furlongs on the firm turf was 1:41.28.

“It worked out perfectly," Velazquez said. "She broke well, and was nice and relaxed in the middle of the pack. I committed to holding my position, and then, when I asked her, she responded very well.”

Perfect Shirl, now 3-1-1 from six starts, has earned $170,557. She is out of the That’s a Nice mare Lady Shirl, who won the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational and also the De La Rose S. on the Saratoga turf. She is also the dam of two-time grade I winner Shakespeare and the multiple graded stakes winner Lady Shakespeare.

Perfect Soul now has five stakes horse in 2010. He was champion turf male at age five and had a particular fondness for the Keeneland turf course, winning both the Shadwell Keeneland Turf Mile (G1) and Maker's Mark Mile (G2) at the Lexington oval. He is the sire of the Canadian Classic winner Perfect Shower, who was part of his first crop of foals in 2006.